Answer.
That it will be proved beyond contradiction, that the Common-Hall was duely call'd, a fair Poll was taken, that the present Lord Mayor and Sir Jonathan Raymond had the Majority of the Poll, that they two were by the Sheriffs returned to the Court of Aldermen, who according to Cu∣stome did choose the present Lord Mayor.
That Sir Robert Adams and some others, after the Poll was closed, and while it was casting up, demanded of the Sheriffs a Scrutiny thereof, which was granted; that afterwards the Sheriffs came into the Common-Hall and declared the Poll, and that a Scrutiny was demanded and granted, and that the next day the Sheriffs sent to the said Sir Robert Adams, and the others who demanded the Scrutiny, that the day following they would proceed upon the Scrutiny; accor∣dingly the Sheriffs met at the time appointed, and the said Sir Robert Adams and the other Per∣sons came, but they refused to proceed therein, saying, they were satisfied with the Declaration the Sheriffs had made of the Poll in the Common-Hall.
Perhaps it may be objected, That there is a By-law, That no Person can be Mayor two Years together: Let that whole By-law be read, and it will appear to have been Enacted, that for avoid∣ing the Charges of that Office, none shall be com∣pelled to hold a second Year, (that is, against his Will.) But the now Mayor before his last Ele∣ction had not held the Office for one whole Year, though he had two-pieces of two several Years, and then the said Act of Parliament happening, he was chosen, not according to Custome, which the said By-law referrs to, but by the said Act of Parliament, which ordains a Mayor to be cho∣sen, and to hold for longer than a Year.
And further, if by the said By-law the last Ele∣ction of the present Lord Mayor be pretended void, or that he is unduely elected, and that Sir William Pritchard, who was Mayor when the said Judgment was given against the City, ought by the said Act of Parliament to be Mayor: